Motherwell fall to Sligo Rovers defeat as Aidan Keena strikes first in Conference League clash at Fir Park

The former Hearts hitman was the difference as Motherwell now have it all to do in Ireland.

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Motherwell fell to a first leg Europa Conference League defeat as former Hearts and Falkirk striker Aidan Keena came back to haunt them at Fir Park.

The Irish side had beaten Welsh opposition in Bala Town to get this far and they proved more than a match for Graham Alexander 's team in the early stages. It was a frantic, end-to end start with Josh Morris and Kevin van Veen combining well at one end while Liam Kelly had to be on his toes at the other.

It was the visitors who had the breakthrough shortly before the half-hour mark as Keena, who has been a revelation for Sligo since joining from Falkirk in February, took advantage of Mevis Bugabi's mistake to lob a despairing Kelly. The home crowd were frustrated heading into the break and it didn't ease much afterwards, with 'Well toiling in the face of a resilient Sligo defensive line.

Alexander rung in the changes as an attritional second half rolled on but neither Ross Tierney or Joseph Efford's introductions from the bench looked like getting much change out of young Luke McNicholas, who was enjoying an impressive game between the sticks for Sligo.

He was quick off his line to deny Van Veen, while William Fitzgerald came close to adding a second as he headed onto the roof of the net. Tierney fired into the side netting from a tight angle while Mugabi tried to atone for his earlier, but could only head wide of the post as Motherwell fell to a disappointing home defeat.

It means they travel to Sligo next week with a one-goal deficit to overturn in Ireland. Anything less and their European adventure ends here.

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